Leinster have announced the signing of rugby league's Ben Te'o from the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Te'o will play in the centres for Leinster and will arrive after the Rabbitohs' National Rugby League season comes to an end. Te'o will make his 150th NRL appearance on Thursday and also played in the recent State of Origin series.

"This is a great step for me personally and is just the type of challenge that I was looking for at this stage in my career," Te'o said. "Leinster is one of the leading lights of Northern Hemisphere rugby and the opportunity to return to union was also an opportunity too good to pass.

"It was a difficult decision to leave the Souths and league in general but I have taken my time over this decision and I believe that what Matt O'Connor and the coaching team have cultivated in Leinster is something special and I look forward to getting stuck in."

And Leinster coach Matt O'Connor is adamant Te'o will make a seamless transition to union from league. He said: "It is something that I dealt with myself as a player but with his professionalism, his physicality and his skill set, there is no reason why the transition can't be a success. Both codes are littered with examples of players that have made the transition and I look forward to working directly with Ben when he arrives.

"He is a dynamic and explosive ball carrier and that physicality will enhance our offering both in attack and in our defence. I think the Leinster supporters are going to like what they see. I know we in the Leinster coaching team are looking forward to his arrival and the younger players will learn a lot from him. He has the character and the application to be a success at Leinster Rugby."